Surgical access device with improved seal housing and trocar interface

Abstract

A surgical access device includes a trocar assembly and a seal housing assembly that is releasably coupled to the trocar assembly. The trocar assembly supports a release mechanism that facilitates attachment and detachment of the seal housing assembly to/from the trocar assembly in a fast and efficient manner.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A surgical access device comprising:
 a trocar assembly including a cannula, a distal housing portion, a proximal housing portion, and a first seal member, the cannula defining a longitudinal axis and a channel that extends through the cannula, the proximal housing portion having an annular configuration and defining openings that extend through the proximal housing portion, the distal housing portion defining a first cavity that communicates with the channel in the cannula, the first seal member received within the first cavity between the distal housing portion and the proximal housing portion;   a release mechanism supported on the trocar assembly between the distal housing portion and the proximal housing portion, the release mechanism including a release member and a biasing member, the release member including a first leg and a second leg, each of the first leg and the second leg defining a cam surface, the release member movable in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis between a locked position and an unlocked position, wherein in the locked position, the cam surfaces of the first leg and the second leg are positioned beneath the openings in the proximal housing portion of the trocar assembly; and   a seal housing assembly including a proximal housing portion, a distal housing portion, and a seal assembly, the proximal housing portion and the distal housing portion of the seal housing assembly define a second cavity, the seal assembly received within the second cavity, the distal housing portion including fingers, each of the fingers received within one of the openings of the proximal housing portion of the trocar assembly, wherein receipt of the fingers within the openings causes the release member to move from the locked position to the unlocked position.   
     
     
         2 . The surgical access device of  claim 1 , wherein the biasing member is positioned to urge the release member towards the locked position. 
     
     
         3 . The surgical access device of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second legs defines a slot that is configured to allow passage of the fingers when the release member is in the unlocked position 
     
     
         4 . The surgical access device of  claim 3 , wherein the cam surface of each of the first leg and the second leg of the release member define a portion of one of the slots. 
     
     
         5 . The surgical access device of  claim 3 , wherein the release member includes a back span that connects the first leg to the second leg. 
     
     
         6 . The surgical access device of  claim 5 , wherein the back span extends outwardly of the proximal housing portion of the trocar assembly. 
     
     
         7 . The surgical access device of  claim 6 , wherein the proximal housing portion of the trocar assembly includes guide members and each of the first leg and the second leg defines a recess, the guide members received within the recesses to guide movement of the release member between the locked position and the unlocked position. 
     
     
         8 . The surgical access device of  claim 1 , wherein the seal assembly includes a second seal member that is formed of a resilient material and defines an opening for receiving a surgical instrument. 
     
     
         9 . The surgical access device of  claim 8 , wherein the seal assembly is movable within the second cavity in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         10 . The surgical access device of  claim 9 , wherein the seal assembly includes an annular body, and the second seal member is supported within the annular body. 
     
     
         11 . The surgical access device of  claim 10 , wherein the annular body supports resilient strips that extend outwardly of the annular body and engage an inner wall of the proximal housing portion of the seal housing assembly. 
     
     
         12 . The surgical access device of  claim 2 , wherein the proximal housing portion of the trocar assembly includes a post and the biasing member is a coil spring positioned about the post between the release member and the proximal housing portion. 
     
     
         13 . A trocar assembly comprising:
 a cannula, a distal housing portion, a proximal housing portion, and a seal member, the cannula defining a longitudinal axis and a channel that extends through the cannula, the proximal housing portion having an annular configuration and defining openings that extend through the proximal housing portion, the distal housing portion defining a first cavity that communicates with the channel in the cannula, the seal member received within the first cavity between the distal housing portion and the proximal housing portion; and   a release mechanism supported on the trocar assembly between the distal housing portion and the proximal housing portion, the release mechanism including a release member and a biasing member, the release member including a first leg and a second leg, each of the first leg and the second leg defining a cam surface, the release member movable in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis between a locked position and an unlocked position, wherein in the locked position, the cam surfaces of the first leg and the second leg are positioned beneath the openings in the proximal housing portion of the trocar assembly.   
     
     
         14 . The trocar assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the biasing member is positioned to urge the release member towards the locked position. 
     
     
         15 . The trocar assembly of  claim 13 , wherein each of the first and second legs defines a slot that is aligned with one of the openings in the proximal housing portion. 
     
     
         16 . The trocar assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the cam surface of each of the first leg and the second leg of the release member define a portion of one of the slots. 
     
     
         17 . The trocar assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the release member includes a back span that connects the first leg to the second leg. 
     
     
         18 . The trocar assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the back span extends outwardly of the proximal housing portion of the trocar assembly. 
     
     
         19 . The trocar assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the proximal housing portion of the trocar assembly includes guide members and each of the first leg and the second leg defines a recess, the guide members received within the recesses to guide movement of the release member between the locked position and the unlocked position. 
     
     
         20 . The trocar assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the proximal housing portion of the trocar assembly includes a post, and the biasing member is a coil spring positioned about the post between the release member and the proximal housing portion.